Scottish Executive

Asylum Seekers

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement the Social Work Services Inspectorate has had, and continues to have, with Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre.

Euan Robson: The Social Work Services Inspectorate has had no involvement with Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre, nor any involvement at present.

Asylum Seekers

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures the Scottish Executive is considering to improve support to asylum seekers within higher education.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Refugee Integration Forum has recommended that asylum seekers be allowed access to part-time Higher National courses on the same basis as currently applies for non-advanced courses. We are working with institutions and the funding councils to ensure that asylum seekers will be eligible for fee waiver support in respect of such courses and for hardship support in respect of books and, if appropriate, travel passes, from academic year 2003-04.

Asylum Seekers

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1921 by Peter Peacock on 5 September 2003, what provisions of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 have been disapplied by UK legislation.

Peter Peacock: Nationality, immigration and asylum are matters for the Home Office. In respect of asylum seekers, the child welfare provisions at section 22 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 are disapplied where the provisions in section 122 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 apply.

Asylum Seekers

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what policy and practice issues relating to children, young people and education which impact upon the experiences of refugees in Scotland were identified by the children's services satellite group of the Scottish Refugee Integration Forum.

Peter Peacock: The information requested is given on pages 75 to 98 of Scottish Refugee Integration Forum, Draft Supporting Document published by Astron in 2002, a copy of which is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 24663).

Asylum Seekers

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the involvement of ministers is in matters relating to education services at the Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre, as referred to by the Minister for Communities in the Parliament on 11 September 2003.

Peter Peacock: Scottish Executive ministers have raised with Home Office ministers the importance of engaging Scotland’s school inspectors in the inspection of education provision and standards at Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre, and are in discussion with Home Office ministers on how the recommendations in the recent HM Chief Inspector of Prisons and HM Inspectorate of Education reports can be taken forward.

Asylum Seekers

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will take forward the recommendations on education provision at the Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre, as referred to by the Minister for Communities in the Parliament on 11 September 2003.

Peter Peacock: The recent HM Chief Inspector of Prisons and HM Inspectorate of Education reports are addressed to the Home Office. Home Office ministers are discussing with the Scottish Executive how the recommendations can be taken forward.

Asylum Seekers

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements have been made in the education system at the Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre, as referred to by the Minister for Communities in the Parliament on 11 September 2003.

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the action referred to by the Minister for Communities in the Parliament on 11 September 2003 in relation to education services at the Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre was.

Peter Peacock: HM Inspectorate of Education’s update report on education provision at Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre, published by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons in August 2003, sets out the improvements made following the October 2002 inspection. The information requested is on page 2 of the report, copies of which are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre, (Bib. number 29149) or on the internet at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/docs2/dungavelupdate.pdf.

Asylum Seekers

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional support it will offer South Lanarkshire Council to provide education services for children detained at the Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre if the Home Office allow the education of such children in mainstream schooling.

Peter Peacock: Such matters would be considered, as appropriate, within the context of our discussions with the Home Office about the recommendations in the recent reports by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons and HM Inspectorate of Education.

Asylum Seekers

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide additional resources for South Lanarkshire Council for translation, interpretation and close support for children detained at the Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre if the Home Office allow the education of such children in mainstream schooling.

Peter Peacock: Such matters would be considered, as appropriate, within the context of our discussions with the Home Office about the recommendations in the recent reports by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons and HM Inspectorate of Education.

Cancer

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made with the colorectal cancer screening pilot and when the outcome of the pilot will be published.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Evaluation of the UK Colorectal Cancer Screening Pilot was released on 8 July 2003. A copy of the report is available at:

  www.show.scot.nhs.uk/sehd/publications/ColorectalCaScreenpilotEval2003.pdf.

  A second round of colorectal cancer screening covering the pilot area of Fife, Grampian and Tayside commenced in December 2002.

Cancer

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the colorectal cancer screening programme will be rolled out throughout Scotland and what funding will be required for the programme.

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether sufficient theatre and laboratory capacity and colonoscopy skills are available to allow the colorectal cancer screening programme to be rolled out throughout Scotland.

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to increase the number of staff within the NHS who are able to perform colonoscopies.

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the age range of patients eligible for the colorectal cancer screening programme.

Malcolm Chisholm: In line with Cancer in Scotland – Action for Change and taking into account the findings of the Evaluation of the UK Colorectal Cancer Screening Pilot , the Executive has re-affirmed its commitment to introduce a national colorectal cancer screening programme subject to the advice from the National Screening Committee. The planning process to support the screening programme is expected to take around five years and will involve the detailed consideration of a range of issues including workforce and training, resources, IT, symptomatic services requirements and the age range for invitation for screening.

Cancer

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to increase the uptake of the colorectal cancer screening pilot and whether this can be achieved using existing resources.

Malcolm Chisholm: The second round of colorectal cancer screening in the pilot area of Fife, Grampian and Tayside will provide an opportunity to look at a number of issues including initiatives aimed at increasing the screening invitation uptake. It is expected that any increases to the number of people accepting the screening invitation will be met from within the pilot’s existing resources.

Care of Elderly People

John Swinburne (Central Scotland) (SSCUP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority spent on transitions and the application of aids to the houses of older people in each of the last three years.

Mr Andy Kerr: Specific information detailing the amount spent by each local authority for this purpose is not held centrally. The Executive collects data from local authorities on the cost of "aids" and adaptations generally including those made for people with a disability as well as older people.

  Local authorities have reported in returns to form LFR3 (Social Work) social work expenditure on aids and adaptations in each of the last three years as shown in the following table.

  


Aids and Adaptions 
  

1999-2000
(£000) 
  

2000-01
(£000) 
  

2001-02
(£000) 
  



Scotland 
  

16,710 
  

19,845 
  

20,678 
  



Aberdeen City 
  

240 
  

193 
  

229 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

327 
  

278 
  

417 
  



Angus 
  

238 
  

469 
  

519 
  



Argyll and Bute 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



Clackmannanshire 
  

339 
  

-202 
  

458 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

468 
  

310 
  

368 
  



Dundee City 
  

318 
  

398 
  

263 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

44 
  

171 
  

9 
  



East Dunbartonshire 
  

444 
  

256 
  

593 
  



East Lothian 
  

239 
  

379 
  

305 
  



East Renfrewshire 
  

320 
  

451 
  

358 
  



Edinburgh City 
  

1,628 
  

1,615 
  

1,318 
  



Eilean Siar 
  

70 
  

114 
  

120 
  



Falkirk 
  

578 
  

659 
  

538 
  



Fife 
  

1,612 
  

1,738 
  

2,020 
  



Glasgow City 
  

1,826 
  

2,142 
  

1,742 
  



Highland 
  

501 
  

580 
  

933 
  



Inverclyde 
  

182 
  

250 
  

288 
  



Midlothian 
  

189 
  

262 
  

172 
  



Moray 
  

209 
  

271 
  

317 
  



North Ayrshire 
  

273 
  

463 
  

1,068 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

2,403 
  

2,979 
  

2,618 
  



Orkney Islands 
  

119 
  

78 
  

90 
  



Perth and Kinross 
  

271 
  

396 
  

482 
  



Renfrewshire 
  

579 
  

700 
  

706 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

300 
  

374 
  

501 
  



Shetland Islands 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

59 
  

161 
  

201 
  



South Lanarkshire 
  

2,556 
  

3,544 
  

2,981 
  



Stirling 
  

210 
  

137 
  

747 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

83 
  

296 
  

151 
  



West Lothian 
  

313 
  

591 
  

359 
  



  Source: As reported by councils on LFR 3 (Social Work) returns to the Executive.

Care of Elderly People

John Swinburne (Central Scotland) (SSCUP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1644 by Mr Tom McCabe on 8 September 2003, how many additional care packages have been provided since it implemented its free personal care policy and how many such packages were provided to residents as a result of the abolition of charges for personal care.

Mr Tom McCabe: This information is not held centrally. However, the new Scottish Care Homes Census’ which took place at the end of March is collecting information on admissions to care homes and funding of residents in care homes. The results of this census should be published in December.

Credit Unions

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has provided for credit unions in each financial year since 1997-98 and what further funding it will provide in 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06.

Ms Margaret Curran: There was no Scottish Executive budget for developing credit union activity prior to 2001. Since 2001-02, the Executive has provided financial support for credit unions, through implementation of the credit union Action Plan, Unlocking the Potential. Spending under this programme totalled £458,000 in 2001-02, and £193,000 in 2002-03.

  As I announced on 3 September 2003 in an answer to a written question S2W-2332, the Executive is allocating £400,000 to support credit unions in 2003-04, and £500,000 per annum in each of 2004-05 and 2005-06. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Digital Technology

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any legal or regulatory differences between Scotland and Northern Ireland which would prevent it adopting a policy similar to the Northern Ireland Executive on the introduction of 100% broadband coverage.

Mr Jim Wallace: No. The Executive also has a policy aim and strategy for pervasive and affordable broadband coverage in Scotland. We are taking forward a number of activities to achieve this.

Digital Technology

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost would be to it of extending the availability of broadband beyond the level currently planned by telecommunications companies.

Mr Jim Wallace: There are already a number of Scottish Executive initiatives aimed at extending the availability of broadband beyond the level planned by the commercial market. The latest measures under our new broadband initiative have funding of up to £24 million.

Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the £100,000 publicity campaign, announced by the Deputy Minister for Finance and Public Services on 12 November 2002 to assist the implementation of the Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003, will be launched; what form it will take, and how long it will last.

Mr Andy Kerr: The marketing campaign to generate awareness of the implementation of the Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003 will begin on 16 October and run for approximately two weeks.

  The first stage of the campaign will comprise the placing of advertisements in regional and national press and over 100 local newspapers, which will alert people to the change in legislation. The advertising activity will be supported by other marketing activity to generate further media coverage and public awareness.

  Campaign messages will also be broadcast by Scottish Radio Holdings’ stations on all of their AM and FM stations across Scotland, starting on the day of the launch and running for five days.

  We are also working closely with local authorities to ensure that the message is distributed widely in all localities across Scotland.

  The budget for the advertising element of the campaign has been reduced from the previously announced £100,000 to £82,000 as a result of the review of Scottish Executive advertising expenditure, which I announced in August of 2002.

Environment

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to reduce the incidence of Japanese knotweed.

Allan Wilson: Japanese knotweed is listed in Schedule 9 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It is therefore an offence under the act to release the species into the wild, accidentally or deliberately.

  Action to be taken in relation to problems caused by Japanese knotweed is a matter for individual local authorities.

  The Scottish Executive is currently assessing key recommendations of the GB-wide Review of non-native Species Policy, published earlier in 2003, which considered the threats posed by invasive non-native species such as Japanese knotweed.

Environment

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on developing a national strategy to tackle issues associated with seagulls in urban settings, as undertaken by the Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development during the Members' Business debate in the Parliament on 7 November 2002 ( Official Report , c15170); what the timetable is for the finalisation of such a strategy, and whether local authorities will be consulted during the strategy's formulation.

Allan Wilson: During the Member's Business debate, I agreed to the proposition that the Scottish Executive develop best practice guidance on how to tackle the problems associated with seagulls, as proposed by David Mundell. As a result, my officials have already met with a number of Directors of Environmental Health from local authorities, including East Ayrshire Council to discuss their current methods of dealing with this issue.

  In addition to considering local authority best practice measures to contain the gull population, we are exploring potential research opportunities to assist in developing a range of solutions. It is intended that the research will be completed in 2004.

Environment

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what contribution it is making to the development of a UK government position on the forthcoming European chemical regulation, the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH) and what plans it has to consult on REACH and carry out a study on the effects of chemical and radiation hazards similar to that announced for England and Wales by the Health Protection Agency.

Allan Wilson: The Executive alerted stakeholders in Scotland to the eight-week internet consultation on the workability of the proposed system for the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH) held over the summer months by the European Commission.

  There will be a full consultation by the UK Government in co-ordination with the Scottish Executive and other devolved administrations following the publication of the Commission’s formal legislative proposals. The Executive will play a full part in developing the UK policy position and the consultation document.

  The Executive has commissioned the National Radiological Protection Board, which is to become part of the Health Protection Agency, to map levels of radon across Scotland and to provide advice on the significance of the levels found. That work is about to get under way. The Executive has no plans at present to commission additional work on the effects of chemicals and radiation hazards, but will follow the progress of all such research closely to assess implications for Scotland.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-1326 and S2W-1327 by Ross Finnie on 31 July 2003, what funds remain to be allocated under the transitional aid scheme for the fishing industry and whether it plans to allow the continuation of applications whilst funds remain available.

Ross Finnie: We anticipate that, following outstanding payments in respect of the six-month period covered by the scheme, around half of the budget ceiling of £10 million will remain unallocated.

  We are examining the case and arrangements for any scheme extension, including any EC State Aid implications, and hope to make an announcement soon.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1326 by Ross Finnie on 31 July 2003, whether it plans to extend the timescale for the transitional aid scheme for the fishing industry in light of any on-going financial pressures facing the industry.

Ross Finnie: We are looking at the issue, including the EC State Aid implications. I hope to announce the outcome within the next couple of weeks.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1327 by Ross Finnie on 31 July 2003, how many fishing vessels have been allocated decommissioning grants, broken down by port, and how much has been allocated under the transitional aid scheme.

Ross Finnie: There are currently 70 extant offers of grant, of which 54 have been accepted by the owners concerned. The breakdown by port of administration of the 54 vessels for which grant has been accepted is:

  


Aberdeen 
  

4 
  



Buckie 
  

11 
  



Eyemouth 
  

1 
  



Fraserburgh 
  

16 
  



Kirkwall 
  

1 
  



Lerwick 
  

7 
  



Peterhead 
  

14 
  



  By the end of the six-month period covered by the transitional aid scheme, we anticipate that around half of the budget ceiling of £10 million will have been allocated.

Food Supplements

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to set scientifically-based maximum safety limits for food supplement preparations.

Mr Tom McCabe: I am advised on this issue by the Food Standards Agency and I consider that maximum limits should be set at levels which protect public health, but neither unnecessarily limit consumer choice nor unduly restrict trade.

  The Food Standards Agency has also advised that a full review to inform the setting of maximum safe upper levels of vitamins and minerals in food supplements has recently been completed by the UK’s Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals (EVM). The EVM’s report was published on 8 May 2003.

  Article 5 of the Food Supplements Directive sets out the principles for setting maximum levels of vitamins and minerals in food supplements, although no such levels have yet been set. The European Commission will make a separate legislative proposal in future. The Food Standards Agency, which is responsible for negotiations on this issue, takes every opportunity to press this stance on limits bilaterally with other member states. The EVM’s advice will form the basis of the UK’s position when substantive discussions on setting maximum limits at EU level take place.

Forestry

Mr Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will facilitate the publication of details of land areas that can be made available at an early date for the establishment of new forest crofts in the Forestry Commission’s Scottish estate.

Allan Wilson: We are not aware of any criteria for classifying land as a forest or woodland croft; therefore Forestry Commission Scotland does not hold records for such a classification. However, last month I asked Forestry Commission Scotland to undertake a review, including a public consultation, of the long-term role of Scotland’s national forest estate, making recommendations to ministers about changes that can improve its ability to deliver the priorities set out in the Scottish Forestry Strategy, together with other Scottish Executive policies. This will provide an opportunity for those with an interest in developing the concept of forest or woodland crofts to set out their ideas.

  Forestry Commission Scotland is also in discussion with Communities Scotland and local planning authorities about the possibility of identifying sites on land it manages, that could be made available for the construction of low-cost housing.

Forestry

Mr Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which areas of land in the Forestry Commission’s Scottish estate are surplus to requirements.

Allan Wilson: The surplus areas of land managed by Forestry Commission Scotland are as follows:

  Plantations Approved for Sale but Not Yet Committed - North Scotland

  


Property Name 
  

Area (ha) 
  

OS Sheet Number 
  

Grid Reference 
  



Ifferdale, Kintyre 
  

27 
  

68 
  

NR763345 
  



Aline Wood 
  

279 
  

14 
  

NB234153 
  



Glen Beag Plantation. 
  

166 
  

33 
  

NG840165 
  



Uigshader Plantation (Skye) 
  

83.5 
  

23 
  

NG435470 
  



Easter Muckernich 
  

1.5 
  

26 
  

NH600531 
  



Wood at Tressait, Strathtummel 
  

4.5 
  

52 
  

NN805599 
  



Toberchurn 
  

49 
  

21 
  

NH618630 
  



Killean Excambion 
  

194 
  

62 
  

NR725445 
  



Canterland 
  

124 
  

45 
  

NO710663 
  



Toucks 
  

48.4 
  

45 
  

NO840850 
  



Carmont 
  

92 
  

45 
  

NO810840 
  



Dalrigh, by Tyndrum 
  

83 
  

50 
  

NN334290 
  



Glen Nevis Cemetary Ext 
  

1.28 
  

41 
  

NN122728 
  



  Plantations Approved but Not Yet On Offer for Sale - North Scotland

  


Property Name 
  

Area (ha) 
  

OS Sheet Number 
  

Grid Reference 
  



Hillend Moss 
  

16 
  

29 
  

NJ525545 
  



Cluanie Woodland 
  

44 
  

33 
  

NH085123 
  



Wellhead Blocks 
  

7 
  

29 
  

NJ490405 
  



Balmacara 
  

17 
  

33 
  

NG800280 
  



Birchwood 
  

30 
  

26 
  

NH510495 
  



Alanglach 11 
  

15 
  

26 
  

NH625500 
  



Mairebhal, N. Uist 
  

3.1 
  

18 
  

NF797703 
  



Langais 
  

3.4 
  

18 
  

NF846654 
  



Torosay Woodland 
  

2.8 
  

49 
  

NM725360 
  



Jamestown 
  

13 
  

26 
  

NH475565 
  



Compt.2534 Aigas 
  

12 
  

26 
  

NH465425 
  



Mullans II 
  

13 
  

26 
  

NH577526 
  



Langamull 
  

202 
  

47 
  

NM394519 
  



West Ardhu 
  

157 
  

47 
  

NM430500 
  



Colpy 
  

50.6 
  

29 
  

NJ653343 
  



South Glengorm 
  

4 
  

47 
  

NW432567 
  



North Glengorm 
  

16 
  

47 
  

NW434560 
  



Glengorm Sorne 
  

72.5 
  

47 
  

NW440565 
  



Barnacarry 
  

210 
  

47 
  

NW895255 
  



  Buildings and Other Land Approved but Not Yet On Offer for Sale - North Scotland

  


Property Name 
  

Area (ha) 
  

OS Sheet Number 
  

Grid Reference 
  



Land at Ardchonnel 
  

0.28 
  

55 
  

NM985127 
  



Mechanical Workshop and Depot, Ducharnan 
  

0.5 
  

55 
  

NR868939 
  



Land at Barcaldine 
  

0.07 
  

49 
  

NM958415 
  



Land at North Dalchork 
  

1226 
  

16 
  

NC550255 
  



Byre and land at Barnluasgan 
  

0.25 
  

55 
  

NR789911 
  



Land at Jenkins Park 
  

0.04 
  

34 
  

NH373096 
  



2 Plots by Annlea, Dalmally 
  

0.31 
  

50 
  

NN174275 
  



Land at Tyndrum 
  

0.15 
  

50 
  

NN328307 
  



Inverinan Deer Larder and Site 
  

0.17 
  

55 
  

NM998177 
  



Land at Bellanoch 
  

0 
  

55 
  

NR797925 
  



Former Sawmill site at Leckuary 
  

3 
  

55 
  

NR877958 
  



Old Store building and land at Corryghoil 
  

0.35 
  

50 
  

NN192276 
  



Balcladaich 
  

0.9 
  

25 
  

NH299261 
  



Keepers Croft Glenlia 
  

4 
  

26 
  

NH508208 
  



Land and Houses at Glenelg 
  

0.3 
  

19 
  

NG811900 
  



Site at Dundreggan Reservoir 
  

3 
  

34 
  

NH365156 
  



Boundary Adjacent at Rotten o'Gairn 
  

1.5 
  

38 
  

NO857038 
  



Buildings at Balinoe 
  

0.02 
  

49 
  

NM877242 
  



Grazing land at Auchterawe 
  

0.25 
  

34 
  

NH352082 
  



Land at Bunessan 
  

0.35 
  

48 
  

NM380217 
  



2 Parcels of land adjacent Old School House, Strontian 
  

0.22 
  

40 
  

NM813618 
  



Cottage at Achnahannet 
  

0.5 
  

20 
  

NH514985 
  



Site adjacent to Burnside, Strontian 
  

0.1 
  

40 
  

NM816617 
  



Balmacara Campsite 
  

11.67 
  

33 
  

NG804279 
  



Land at Ardnarff 
  

7.21 
  

24 
  

NG885355 
  



Land adjacent to Tigh Na Coille 
  

0.3 
  

28 
  

NJ132673 
  



Old Schoolhouse, Glenmore 
  

0 
  

23 
  

NG442396 
  



Plot No 1 Bunessan 
  

0 
  

48 
  

NM383217 
  



Land at Beadoun, Tobermory 
  

0 
  

47 
  

NM505549 
  



Garages at Inverinate 
  

0 
  

33 
  

NG934211 
  



Glenvarigall Store, Portree 
  

0.06 
  

23 
  

NG476400 
  



Plot at Eynort 
  

0.12 
  

32 
  

NG384267 
  



  Buildings and Other Land Approved and On Offer but Not Yet Committed - North Scotland

  


Property Name 

Area (ha) 

OS Sheet Number 

Grid Reference 



Land at Inchree 

13.07 

41 

NN030630 



Achlich and Rhians Crofts 

0 

35 

NH560040 



Land at Minard 

0.5 

55 

NR978963 



Achnanellan Hill Ground 

249 

40 

NM780675 



Development land at Bunessan, Mull 

2 

48 

NM380217 



Area adjacent to Farr Bay House 

0.26 

10 

NC708624 



Sites A and B Ratagan 

0.59 

33 

NG922195 



Kiel Campsite and adjoining Woodland 

1.10 

49 

NM669453 



  Plantations Approved but Not Yet On Offer for Sale - South Scotland

  


Property Name 
  

Area (ha) 
  

OS Sheet Number 
  

Grid Reference 
  



Shawbraemoor 
  

22 
  

85 
  

NY182747 
  



Crosswood Burn 
  

23.5 
  

72 
  

NR060580 
  



Buteland 
  

30 
  

65 
  

NT127635 
  



Solsgirth 
  

18 
  

58 
  

NT000950 
  



Stroneslaney Plantation 
  

21.2 
  

57 
  

NN553199 
  



Land at Tarbert 
  

2.4 
  

56 
  

NN329058 
  



  Building and Other Land Approved but Not Yet On Offer for Sale - South Scotland

  


Property Name 
  

Area (ha) 
  

OS Sheet Number 
  

Grid Reference 
  



Kingshouse Grazing 
  

4.49 
  

57 
  

NN563202 
  



Storage/Deer Larder, Glendaruel 
  

0.12 
  

55 
  

NS018878 
  



Exc at Benmore Gardens 
  

2.2 
  

56 
  

NS143859 
  



Kilmun Development Site 
  

0.20 
  

56 
  

NS160825 
  



Hafton Site & Buildings, Tighnabruich 
  

2.5 
  

62 
  

NR973726 
  



Land at Whistlefield 
  

1.5 
  

56 
  

NS143934 
  



Tarfessock Farmhouse 
  

0 
  

83 
  

NX364883 
  



Former ROC Bunker, Kingshouse, Strathyre 
  

0.04 
  

57 
  

NN563202 
  



  Plantation Approved and On Offer for Sale but Not Yet Committed - South Scotland

  


Property Name 
  

Area (ha) 
  

OS Sheet Number 
  

Grid Reference 
  



Blairenbathie 
  

2.96 
  

58 
  

NS120946 
  



Allanton, Strathaven 
  

43.6 
  

71 
  

NS616365 
  



Greenwood 
  

40 
  

67 
  

NS841639 
  



Pt Thornielee Forest (Pot Eco-Village) 
  

14 
  

73 
  

NS405364 
  



Polkemmet Moor Exc 
  

64.8 
  

65 
  

NS935625 
  



  Buildings and Other Land Approved and On Offer but Not Yet Committed - South Scotland

  


Property Name 
  

Area (ha) 
  

OS Sheet Number 
  

Grid Reference 
  



Thorngower, Moniaive 
  

0 
  

76 
  

NX783907 
  



Land at Castle Douglas Office 
  

0.001 
  

84 
  

NX766627 
  



Land at Benmore Botanic Garden 
  

0.01 
  

56 
  

NS144855 
  



  This schedule does not include areas where sales terms have been accepted and are with solicitors for completion.

Health

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much Factor (a) VIII and (b) IX was used; what proportion of each product was synthetic, and how many patients were treated with each product, in each year from 1979 to 1989.

Malcolm Chisholm: Details of the figures available to the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) for issues of Factors VIII and IX by SNBTS and the purchases of commercial products from 1979 to 1989 are given in the following tables. Recombinant Factors VIII and IX were not available during this time period. Figures are not available centrally for the number of patients treated with these products.

  Factor VIII – SNBTS Issues and Commercial Purchases, 1979-89

  


Million units 
  

1979 
  

1980 
  

1981 
  

1982 
  

1983 
  

1984 
  

1985 
  

1986 
  

1987 
  

1988 
  

1989 
  



SNBTS 
  

1.66 
  

5.01 
  

6.18 
  

6.48 
  

6.13 
  

10.42 
  

7.40 
  

5.52 
  

7.44 
  

9.51 
  

8.16 
  



Commercial 
  

0.85 
  

1.00 
  

1.37 
  

1.40 
  

1.04 
  

 0.11 
  

0.03 
  

0.13 
  

0.19 
  

0.15 
  

1.72 
  



Total 
  

2.51 
  

6.01 
  

7.55 
  

7.88 
  

7.17 
  

10.53 
  

7.43 
  

5.65 
  

7.63 
  

9.66 
  

9.88 
  



  SNBTS FVIII: Figures based on issues of Factor VIII manufactured by SNBTS.

  Commercial FVIII: Figures based on commercial Factor VIII purchases supplied by Chief Administrative Pharmaceutical Officers and the Scottish Office Home and Health Department.

  Factor IX – SNBTS Issues and Commercial Purchases, 1979-89

  


Million units 
  

1979 
  

1980 
  

1981 
  

1982 
  

1983 
  

1984 
  

1985 
  

1986 
  

1987 
  

1988 
  

1989 
  



SNBTS 
  

0.92 
  

1.14 
  

2.00 
  

0.98 
  

1.36 
  

1.31 
  

1.59 
  

1.17 
  

2.09 
  

2.74 
  

2.86 
  



Commercial 
  

N/A 
  

N/A 
  

N/A 
  

N/A 
  

N/A 
  

N/A 
  

N/A 
  

N/A 
  

N/A 
  

N/A 
  

N/A 
  



Total 
  

0.92 
  

1.14 
  

2.00 
  

0.98 
  

1.36 
  

1.31 
  

1.59 
  

1.17 
  

2.09 
  

2.74 
  

2.86 
  



  SNBTS FIX: Figures based on issues of the prothrombin complex concentrate, DEFIX, (Factors II, IX and X) by SNBTS.

  Commercial FIX: Figures are not held for commercial purchases during this period.

Health

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what findings have been produced from the two endometriosis research projects funded through the Chief Scientist Office prior to June 2001.

Malcolm Chisholm: The two projects referred to in question S1W-8966 on 11 December 2000, were not directly related to endometriosis but to other disorders of the endometrium. One of those research projects has now been completed and an executive summary of the findings can be found on the Chief Scientist Office’s (CSO) website, http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/cso, under Publications-Executive Summaries-October 2001-Health Services Research, project reference number K-OPR-2-2-D360. This project deals with microwave endometrial ablation, a treatment under investigation in mild cases of endometriosis. A further CSO project on this topic is now also about to commence.

  The second research project looks at a genetic predisposition to endometrial cancer and is of relevance to the wider issue of mismatch repair genes in benign (endometriosis) and malignant endometrial tumours. The final report is due in the next two months. A copy of the executive summary for this project will be placed on the CSO’s website in due course.

Justice

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to issue specific instructions and guidance to chief constables in regard to the treatment of persons who use cannabis in light of the new instructions issued to police forces in England and Wales.

Hugh Henry: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2F-206 on 18 September 2003, which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/sch/search.

Justice

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the treatment of those who use cannabis in Scotland in comparison with the treatment of those who use cannabis in England and Wales and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Hugh Henry: The police have a duty to uphold the law. Possession and supply of illegal drugs, including cannabis, is illegal under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Cannabis will remain an illegal drug following its reclassification from Class B to Class C.

  In England and Wales, it is normally the police who decide whether or not to start criminal proceedings for cannabis possession. In Scotland, this is a matter for procurators fiscal. Procurators fiscal have a range of options, including alternatives to prosecution, such as issuing a warning, a fiscal fine or diversion to treatment agencies. Guidance is available regarding the treatment of cases involving the misuse of controlled drugs, and this is kept under review by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

Maritime Issues

Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will undertake an assessment of the impact of the International Code for the Security of Ships and of Port Facilities on the ports of Stranraer and Cairnryan.

Nicol Stephen: Maritime security is a reserved matter, and the Scottish Executive is in close touch with the Department for Transport about implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.

Maritime Issues

Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will undertake an assessment of the impact of the International Code for the Security of Ships and of Port Facilities on small port and harbour facilities in the Dumfries and Galloway area.

Nicol Stephen: Maritime Security is a reserved matter, and the Scottish Executive is in close touch with the Department for Transport about implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.

Maritime Issues

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance is available to Montrose Port Authority for the reconstruction of berth 16 on Montrose’s south quay and whether it will meet representatives of the authority to discuss this matter.

Nicol Stephen: The Executive policy on assistance for ports is set out in Modern Ports: A UK Policy (Bib. number 9874), a copy of which is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre. Officials in the Executive met representatives of Montrose Port Authority on 4 September and discussed a wide range of issues, including possible reconstruction of berth 16 on Montrose’s South Quay. The port authority is examining possible options for re-instating the damaged quayside and related measures to restore berthing capacity.

Maritime Issues

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what conditions, criteria and planning implications must be met for the creation of a harbour; what action it or local authorities can take to prevent the creation of artificial or fixed harbours; what regulations can be put in place following the creation of any such harbour, and what consideration is given to the effect upon adjacent harbours when granting authorisation for the creation of a harbour.

Nicol Stephen: A harbour development would normally be pursued through a Harbour Order under the Harbours Act 1964 to convey the powers to create, operate and regulate a harbour. The conditions and criteria that apply to Harbour Orders are set out in sections 14 to 18 of that act. Section 34 of the Coast Protection Act 1949 also provides for consents to be given to certain marine operations and works in relation to the safety of navigation.

  Harbour authorities, along with other statutory undertakers, have permitted development rights under The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992. A non-statutory harbour development would normally require planning permission, which would be a matter for the planning authority in the first instance.

  Harbour development pursued through a Harbour Order, permitted development rights or an application for planning permission would be subject to the regulations on environmental impact assessment as appropriate.

  The action which the Executive or local authorities can take to prevent the creation of artificial or fixed harbours is not prescribed in statute. The Executive and local authority concerned would have to consider any specific case in the light of the legislation which might apply in the circumstances, and how the term artificial or fixed harbour was defined.

  Any regulations which can be put in place following the creation of such a harbour would depend on how the facility was defined in statute, and on whether the developer of any facilities had powers to make such regulations. Any regulation by the Executive would have to come within its devolved functions for ports and harbours, and fall within ministers’ powers in the relevant legislation.

  Consideration of the effect on adjacent harbours before granting any authorisation for the creation of a harbour would depend on what authorisation or consent was being sought, and the criteria in the relevant part of the legislation which applied.

Meat Industry

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current level of cow beef produced in Scotland is; what the level was in (a) 1995, (b) 1997 and (c) 1999, and how much was produced in each of those years for (i) domestic and (ii) export markets.

Ross Finnie: : The production of cow beef, that is beef from cattle aged over 30 months, has been banned since May 1996 following the introduction of the Over Thirty Months Scheme (OTMS). This means that in 1997, 1999 and 2002 the level of cow beef production in Scotland was zero. The through-put to OTMS in Scotland of what previously would have been classified as cow beef in 1997 was 116,000 head of cattle, 129,000 in 1999 and 103,000 in 2002.

  The last full year that there is cow beef production information available is 1995 and in that year 119,000 head of cattle were produced. We are unable to provide figures on the percentage of these cows that went to export markets for each of these years since these figures are not recorded.

NHS Staff

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time consultants are working in the Golden Jubilee National Hospital, Clydebank.

Malcolm Chisholm: Information has been provided by the Golden Jubilee National Hospital in relation to consultant staffing levels. At the beginning of September 2003, there were seven full-time and no part-time NHS consultants employed by the Golden Jubilee National Hospital.

  The hospital provides access rights to over 300 consultants, of which 90 undertake regular sessions. In addition, there are 19 consultants who work, as and when required, to provide a service for the hospital.

  Information and Statistics Division Scotland update the medical and dental staffing data through an annual census and the latest centrally held data is correct as at 30 September 2002. The next update, reflecting the position at 30 September 2003, will be published in February 2004.

Non-Domestic Rates

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the administrative cost of collecting non-domestic rates was in 2001-02, broken down by local authority area.

Mr Andy Kerr: Information on the administrative cost of collecting non-domestic rates in 2001-02 can be found in the CIPFA Rating Review Actuals of Income and Expenditure  booklet (Bib. number 26652) a copy of which is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Nuclear Power

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of energy was generated by nuclear power plants in (a) 1990 and (b) 2000 and what information it has on how this compared with the rest of the United Kingdom.

Lewis Macdonald: In 2000, 34.2% of electricity generated in Scotland came from nuclear power. Comparable information for earlier years is not available. Information on electricity generated in the United Kingdom is available at:

  http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/inform/energy_stats/electricity/index.shtml.

Post Office

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what role it will play in revitalising the Post Office network, as referred to in A Partnership for a Better Scotland .

Allan Wilson: Royal Mail, post offices and postal services are reserved issues but the Scottish Executive recognises the importance of the availability across Scotland of services provided by the Post Office network.

  The Deputy Minister for Social Justice launched a £2 million fund to develop post offices in deprived urban areas on 30 December 2002. The objective of this fund is to contribute to the regeneration of deprived urban areas by sustaining and improving post office branches, on the margins of viability, that provide socially important services and facilities and that can act as an anchor for other retail activity.

  The Scottish Executive is represented on Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) interdepartmental group convened to examine strategy for supporting rural post offices after April 2006. This group has been convened to help DTI prepare options and advice for their ministers who have responsibility for postal matters. Officials also represent the Executive on Royal Mail’s rural interests group considering the use of funding provided by DTI.

  The Executive will continue to monitor post office developments in both urban and rural contexts and work together with the DTI and Royal Mail to identify options for action that the Executive can pursue within its devolved powers.

Public Transport

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to encourage the establishment of quality partnership schemes in all areas and what the timescale is for so doing.

Nicol Stephen: The Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 provides a toolkit of options for local transport authorities to revitalise local bus services; this toolkit includes quality partnerships. Comprehensive guidance on the act was published in October 2001 and it is now for local transport authorities, working closely with bus operators, to decide how best to use the powers to devise local solutions to local problems. My officials are available to provide advice as required.

Public Transport

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that the regulation of fares, frequency of service and standards of employment are included in future quality contract schemes.

Nicol Stephen: Quality contracts are a tool provided by the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 for use by local transport authorities. The act refers to fares and frequency of service as matters which may be included in a quality contract submitted to Scottish ministers for approval. The act makes no such provision in relation to standards of employment.

Public Transport

Colin Fox (Lothians) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what passenger groups in the Lothians it is in contact with regarding the protection, provision and improvement of local bus services.

Nicol Stephen: Issues relating to local bus services in the Lothians are matters for the local transport authorities. Ministers are in regular contact with a wide range of passenger groups, but there is currently no on-going contact with any Lothian group.

Public Transport

Dr Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that local communities do not experience (a) bus routes being removed by private bus companies and (b) bus routes being provided by private companies that do not meet the requirements of such communities.

Nicol Stephen: The provision of local bus services is generally a matter for individual bus operators who use their commercial judgement as to the level and frequency of services to be provided. Beyond the commercial decisions of bus operators, it is the responsibility of the local transport authority to identify where there is a social need for a particular bus service and to make subsidy available, if it so chooses, so that appropriate additional services are provided.

Residential Care

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many assaults on (a) staff and (b) other young people and incidents involving (i) staff and (ii) other young people were recorded in young people’s residential units in each year from 1999-2000 to 2002-03, in total and broken down by residential unit.

Euan Robson: The information requested is not held centrally.

Road Safety

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what publicity has been given to the Arrive Alive Scheme in each of the last five years.

Nicol Stephen: The Arrive Alive Road Safety Programme was launched in 1997 by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA). The programme involves driving examiners visiting schools and colleges, and other organisations connected with the 16- to 19-year age group, and delivering road safety information. Every member of the audience at a presentation is issued with an information booklet about the programme, and comprehensive folders are sent to any organisation that expresses an interest in hosting a presentation. There is a dedicated Arrive Alive website and the DSA also regularly issues press releases about the programme and places articles in its Despatch magazine for the driver training industry and others with an interest in road safety.

  In the last five years, the number of presentations throughout Great Britain has increased substantially as shown in the table.

  


1998-99 
  

300 
  



1999-2000 
  

880 
  



2000-01 
  

1,709 
  



2001-02 
  

2,726 
  



2002-03 
  

4,253 
  



2003-04 (planned) 
  

6,000

Road Safety

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what publicity has been given to the Pass Plus scheme in each of the last five years.

Nicol Stephen: The Pass Plus scheme has been developed by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA), which chairs a board that promotes the scheme throughout Great Britain.

  The Pass Plus scheme provides a structured course of post-test training for newly-qualified drivers, and those who complete the course can benefit from discounted insurance rates from participating insurance companies. Pass Plus courses are provided by Approved Driving Instructors, registered by DSA, and the scheme is administered by the agency, with support from the motor insurance industry.

  Publicity for the scheme is carried out in a number of ways. The scheme is promoted in a DSA leaflet which is sent out with the 800,000 provisional driving licences which are issued annually. The benefits of the Pass Plus scheme are covered in DSA’s Arrive Alive Road Safety Programme for young people. The scheme is promoted in DSA’s Drive On magazine, a copy of which is handed to successful driving test candidates by their examiner. There is also a dedicated Pass Plus website, and local Road Safety Officers are encouraged to promote the scheme. Some of the insurance companies involved in the scheme have taken their own steps to promote the benefits of Pass Plus.

  The table gives the number of drivers completing the course in Great Britain in each of the last five years.

  


1998-99 
  

19,685 
  



1999-2000 
  

25,920 
  



2000-01 
  

40,668 
  



2001-02 
  

56,203 
  



2002-03 
  

70,084

Road Safety

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has under its road safety responsibilities on the number of new car drivers in the 17 to 20 age range there have been in each of the last five years.

Nicol Stephen: The table gives the number of full driving licences that commenced between 1997 and the end of May 2002 where the driver was aged between 17 and 20 years old and resided in Scotland.

  


Age when Licence Commenced 
  

Commencement of Licence 
  



1997 
  

1998 
  

1999 
  

2000 
  

2001 
  

2002
(to 31 May) 
  

Total 
  



17 
  

17,165 
  

12,305 
  

9,533 
  

9,385 
  

9,153 
  

3,631 
  

61,172 
  



18 
  

7,002 
  

5,859 
  

7,432 
  

8,801 
  

8,232 
  

2,817 
  

40,143 
  



19 
  

3,074 
  

2,741 
  

3,425 
  

5,350 
  

5,825 
  

2,184 
  

22,599 
  



20 
  

2,283 
  

1,805 
  

2,212 
  

3,301 
  

3,857 
  

1,418 
  

14,876 
  



Total 
  

29,524 
  

22,710 
  

22,602 
  

26,837 
  

27,067 
  

10,050 
  

138,790

Roads

Mr John Home Robertson (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what timescale has been set for tendering and construction of the dual carriageway on the A1 between Thistly Cross and Bowerhouse.

Nicol Stephen: The tender process for this scheme has already started. The Prior Indicative Notice for prospective tenderers was published in the Official Journal on 14 July 2003. Construction is expected to start in spring 2004, following the completion of the A1 Expressway. It is expected that the works will be completed late in 2004 or early in 2005.

Roads

Mr John Home Robertson (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, when it now expects the new A1 dual carriageway link between Haddington and Thistly Cross to be completed.

Nicol Stephen: I expect the new road to be opened to traffic in the spring of next year.

Roads

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making on the strategic roads review and whether it will provide an indicative list of projects in the Ayrshire area being considered for inclusion.

Nicol Stephen: We are committed in the Partnership Agreement to beginning, by 2007, a strategic projects review which will examine all transport modes. It is too early to say which particular projects will be considered in the review.

Schools

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual expenditure has been on temporary accommodation for pupils in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools, in each of the last five years, expressed also as a percentage of overall local authority education spending.

Peter Peacock: Responsibility for the detailed management of the education service lies with the individual local authorities. The information requested is not held centrally.

Schools

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many pupils in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools have been educated in temporary accommodation, expressed as a percentage of total number of pupils educated and broken down by local authority area in each of the last five years.

Peter Peacock: Responsibility for the detailed management of the education service lies with the individual local authorities. The information requested is not held centrally.

Schools

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average age of (a) primary and (b) secondary school buildings is and what percentage of all school buildings are listed buildings in each local authority.

Peter Peacock: The information requested is not held centrally.

Scottish Executive Departments

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much each of its departments spent on staff travel and accommodation in each year since 1999.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested is set out in the following table.

  


Year
Department 
  

1999-2000
(£000) 
  

2000-01
(£000) 
  

2001-02
(£000) 
  

2002-03
(£000) 
  



Corporate Services 
  

1,232 
  

1,035 
  

921 
  

1,060 
  



Finance and Central Services Department 
  

593 
  

614 
  

688 
  

725 
  



Education Department 
  

184 
  

238 
  

271 
  

372 
  



Development Department 
  

369 
  

355 
  

410 
  

439 
  



Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department 
  

376 
  

354 
  

338 
  

313 
  



Health Department 
  

253 
  

355 
  

389 
  

528 
  



Justice Department 
  

322 
  

327 
  

348 
  

381 
  



Environment and Rural Affairs Department 
  

1,690 
  

1,595 
  

1,866 
  

1,625 
  



Total 
  

5,019 
  

4,873 
  

5,231 
  

5,443 
  



  The table is based on the departmental structure prior to April 2003.

  Restructuring of departments in the Scottish Executive over the period affects some of the year-on-year comparisons.

  The figures relate to the core staff of departments and do not include the costs related to executive agencies. Over the period the relevant staff numbers have increased from 3,824 to 4,346. The figures in the table therefore represent a 4.5% reduction per member of staff over the period.

Scottish Executive Expenditure

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on Microsoft software licenses in each of the last three financial years.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive has in place two licensing agreements with Microsoft which provide significant levels of discount on published list prices for Microsoft software.

  We have a Select Agreement which offers participating organisations volume discount on Microsoft list prices for their software licences. In addition, we have signed, in February 2003, a three-year Enterprise Agreement with Microsoft which entitles us to receive all upgrades for a defined list of software products (mainly MS Office) issued in the agreement period. The terms of both agreements were negotiated by the Office of Government Commerce on behalf of all government departments.

  Expenditure on Microsoft software licenses in each of the past three financial years has been:

  


Year 
  

2000-01 
  

2001-02 
  

2002-03 
  



Select Licences 
  

£191,368 
  

£428,812 
  

£489,956 
  



Enterprise Agreement 
  

- 
  

- 
  

£911,518 
  



Total 
  

£191,368 
  

£428,812 
  

£1,401,474 
  



  The figures noted include Value Added Tax at 17.5% and reflect the discounts the Scottish Executive receives from the licensing agreements. The costs in 2000-01 and 2001-02 do not include any elements of technology refresh upgrades.

Scottish Water

Alex Fergusson (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what revenue it expects to be raised by Scottish Water in Dumfries and Galloway in each of the next five years from (a) domestic customers and (b) business customers and how much it expects to invest in the water infrastructure of Dumfries and Galloway in each of these years.

Ross Finnie: The questions raised are of an operational nature. I have therefore asked the Chief Executive of Scottish Water to reply. His response is:

  Scottish Water is expecting to raise £14.5 million from domestic customers in Dumfries and Galloway in 2003-04. The equivalent figure for business customers is not available, as these are not identified by local authority region. Charges schemes for the next four years have not yet been agreed. However, the revenue cap for all Scottish Water customers has been set to increase by 4.6% in 2004-05 and then to fall by 1.3% in 2005-06.

  Scottish Water has announced that, as part of the £1.8 billion capital investment programme, they will spend over £60 million by March 2006 in Dumfries and Galloway.

Single European Currency

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-2296 by Mr Andy Kerr on 4 September 2003, whether it will provide financial support to assist local authorities with any costs incurred by them due to compliance with the Euro Preparations Guidance, issued by HM Treasury in June 2003.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive will not be providing financial assistance to local authorities in order for them to follow the HM Treasury guidelines issued in June 2003. Costs incurred by local authorities in this regard are staff time involved in euro preparations planning and inclusion of euro compatibility in new or upgraded IT systems. The staff time spent is incidental to other duties, and the cost of including euro compatibility in IT system upgrades is marginal to the cost of each upgrade.

Speed Cameras

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive who reviews the positioning of fixed speed cameras and how often such reviews take place.

Cathy Jamieson: Each local Safety Camera Partnership is responsible for reviewing its use of fixed and mobile speed cameras, within the rules of the Scottish Safety Camera programme. The monitoring process is continu ous, but it is formalised on an annual basis during the preparation of the partnership’s operational case for the year ahead.

Sport

Mr Ted Brocklebank (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to hold a public inquiry into the proposal by St Andrew’s International Golf Club for golf and leisure developments at Feddinch, St Andrews, in view of Fife Council not addressing the proposal within the statutory timescale and the subsequent decision of the developer to lodge a direct appeal with the Executive.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2O-421 on 18 September 2003, which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Student Finance

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its plans to amend the guidance that is provided to academic institutions on making awards from hardship funds will be complete in time for implementation in the 2003-04 academic year.

Mr Jim Wallace: The relevant guidance has been amended and issued to institutions.

Teachers

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether additional work for existing staff in respect of the one-year probationary teacher system was taken into account in the recent job-sizing exercise carried out as part of the McCrone agreement.

Peter Peacock: The job-sizing exercise encompasses all management responsibilities outlined in the agreement A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century . This includes the management and guidance of colleagues. However, it should be noted that there is no requirement for probationer teachers to be supported by a particular grade of teacher.

Teachers

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional pressures have been put on school staffing as a result of mentoring and supervising probationary teachers in the one-year probationary teacher system.

Peter Peacock: None. Probationer teachers have always required support and mentoring, and this has traditionally been a responsibility of all teachers. Since the introduction of the teacher induction scheme, with its more formalised mentoring regime, the Executive has made additional funding available to local authorities towards the cost of mentoring. Local authorities receive 10 per cent of a probationer teacher’s salary for each probationer they employ specifically to contribute to mentoring costs.

Teachers

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it provides for newly-qualified teachers following the one-year probationary system.

Peter Peacock: We have recently issued in the autumn of last year to all teachers and schools, guidance on the Professional Review and Development process. This document, that was prepared in collaboration with local authorities and other key stakeholders, describes the types of professional development opportunities that teachers should expect to be exposed to throughout their career. It provides an exemplar framework in which to place such opportunities which schools and teachers should consider and which reflects on what development activities are appropriate at different stages in a teacher’s career. The Professional Review and Development document is one of the elements that come together to make the National Framework for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) of teachers. In addition to the guidance prepared with our partners, the Executive has distributed £13.45 million in 2002-03 and £14 million in 2003-04 for CPD to local authorities.

Telecommunications

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has commissioned into the potential effect of the use of the Terrestrial Trunked Radio telephone system on the health of police officers who use the system and people in close proximity to such officers; what discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government on research carried out elsewhere in the UK on this matter, and whether it has met with the providers of the system to discuss its possible effect on medical equipment used in hospitals, clinics and medical practices and on items such as pacemakers and hearing aids.

Cathy Jamieson: Scottish ministers have a common interest with the UK Government in the introduction of the new police radio communications system Airwave which uses Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) technology. Scottish Police Forces are part of the Home Office-led research programme, which includes a detailed study involving 150 officers to determine whether Airwave signals have any effect on the well-being of users and a national 15-year health monitoring programme involving up to 100,000 police Airwave users.

  In addition, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory is carrying out a study into the possible biological effects of TETRA. An objective of the programme is to determine whether TETRA pulse modulated radio frequency fields can affect calcium levels and signalling in neurones and other cells.

  There is no research looking specifically at the possible effects of Airwave use on people who come into random contact with the system.

  NHSScotland has taken account of studies into the effects of mobile phones and TETRA on medical devices. The Scottish Healthcare Supplies Safety Action Note SAN(SC)01-10, 12 April 2001, "Medical Devices, TETRA (Terrestrial Trunked Radio System) and outside media broadcasts from hospital premises: risk of interference with medical devices" concluded that "The risk to medical devices from the use of TETRA handsets is comparable to that from GSM cellular phones." It went on to advise that, "All personnel using TETRA handsets on hospital premises should therefore be made aware of, and follow, the local policy guidelines applicable for cellular phone systems."

Transport (Scotland) Act 2001

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the implementation of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 and, in particular, the sections relating to quality partnership schemes.

Nicol Stephen: As outlined in A Partnership for a Better Scotland ,   the Executive is committed to monitoring whether the quality partnership powers included in the Transport (Scotland) Act are adequate to protect and enhance evening, weekend and rural bus services. Work is progressing on a detailed report on the impact of partnership working, including action on quality partnerships. The next steps will be decided in light of that report.

Transport (Scotland) Act 2001

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many quality contract schemes have been established under the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001.

Nicol Stephen: No quality contract schemes have so far been established.

Water Authorities

Alex Fergusson (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what revenue was raised by Scottish Water and the former West of Scotland Water in Dumfries and Galloway for each of the last five years from (a) domestic customers and (b) business customers and how much was invested in the water infrastructure in Dumfries and Galloway in each of these years.

Ross Finnie: The questions raised are of an operational nature. I have therefore asked the Chief Executive of Scottish Water to reply. His response is:

  Scottish Water raised £13 million from domestic customers in Dumfries and Galloway in 2002-03, and the West of Scotland Water raised £11.8 million in 2001-02. The equivalent figures for business customers are not available, as these are not identified by local authority region.

  The West of Scotland Water Authority spent £16.8 million in 1999-2000, £26.7 million in 2000-01 and £30.6 million in 2001-02. Scottish Water has announced that, as part of the £1.8 billion capital investment programme, they will spend in excess of a further £60 million by March 2006 in Dumfries and Galloway.

Young Offenders

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans are in place to provide the additional 29 secure accommodation places for young offenders, announced on 24 March 2003.

Cathy Jamieson: Four of the five providers announced on 24 March are finalising their secure redevelopment plans.

  Discussions are continuing with Rossie School to consider how we can best achieve an 18-bed secure unit in the north-east.